By Matthew Beil, Staff Writer
Since the tragic events at Sandy Hook Elementary, the issue of gun control has been in the forefront of Americans’ minds. One solution occurs in certain states that have laws that allow authorities to take away guns of individuals who have been convicted of domestic violence. In 1996 the Lautenberg amendment, an amendment added to the 1968 Federal Gun Control Act, banned the possession of firearms to those individuals who were convicted of a misdemeanor domestic violence charge. Currently there is a petition to repel that amendment. According to the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) a misdemeanor domestic violence crime:
- is a misdemeanor under Federal or State law;
- has, as an element, the use or attempted use of physical force, or the threatened use of a deadly weapon; and
- was committed by a current or former spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabiting with or has cohabited with the victim as a spouse, parent, or guardian, or by a person similarly situated to a spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim. (Above information from the ATF website)
There are many passionate sides to this issue. The advocates of the Second Amendment, who oppose gun legislation, have argued that guns are a constitutional right and allow individuals to protect themselves from criminals. This side of the argument includes the National Rifle Association (NRA) which is the leading advocates for gun ownership in the United States with 4.3 million members according to statisticsbrian.com. The other side of the argument states that guns do not make people safer. In fact, according to a study done by the American Journal of Epidemiology, living in a house with a gun does not make one safer. Furthermore, the same report found individuals that lived in a house with a firearm were at greater risk of death by homicide.
Both sides of this issue have shown that they want to protect themselves from violence. Yet why then would anyone allow someone convicted of domestic violence to obtain a gun of any kind? There is a serious issue in the United States with gun violence, but it is as if we almost have a violence fetish.
Violence is everywhere. While most individuals are well adjusted and can understand that violence is not a socially acceptable means of communication, there are still instances where good people do terrible things. These are called crimes of passion where an individual is overcome with emotions and loses the objective sense of right and wrong. Give these individuals who are not mentally sound the right to live in a house with access to a firearm at any time.
The United States has a serious problem with gun control and gun legislation. What is needed is a good sound solution that allows gun owners to have their weapons for protection, hunting, or recreational use, while keeping firearms away from individuals who could potentially harm others.
But what do students on campus think about this issue? They were asked how they felt about individuals who were convicted of a domestic violence crime and not being allowed to own, purchase, or possess fire arms.
Senior Timothy Gude said, “I agree with that, absolutely. One of the things that would improve gun control is more extensive background checks. Violent people are what ruin it for everyone else and abuse the right to own fire arms.”
Senior Amanda Butler said, “If an individual has been convicted of a misdemeanor domestic violence crime, they are obviously violent enough to make threats. If that individual were to get pushed to the edge, that minor violent behavior could turn deadly. I would not trust them with any type of gun. Guns should be used to defend individuals from violence not as a gateway for violence itself.”
Regardless of one’s personal beliefs, there is a glaring issue in the United States that is the lack of gun control. It would benefit everyone if there could be a reasonable and fair solution that allows for Americans to own guns, but also reduce the amount of gun violence in the country.
